Jason Micallef hits out at Peppi Azzopardi over Xarabank's Liam Debono interview

Jason Micallef has launched a tirade against Xarabank presenter Peppi Azzopardi for turning the Liam Debono interview controversy into a "marketing stunt". 

The V18 and ONE Productions chairman claimed that Azzopardi posed as a champion for the downtrodden while instigating a "divisive" debate on a case, which shocked the country.

“With his inimitable acting, he insists on making us believe that the Friday night slot on the national broadcaster was left to him by his grandfather,” Micallef said, in a Facebook post today.

Micallef's outburst was directed at last week's incident in which Magistrate Joe Mifsud issued a gagging order to stop Xarabank from airing an eight-minute interview with Debono. The interview was not broadcast.

Debono stands accused with the attempted murder of police officer Simon Schembri after running him down earlier this year. The compilation of evidence against Debono is ongoing.

The Xarabank presenter was critical of the court's ruling and defended the decision to interview Debono. Azzopardi has insisted that the interview did not enter into the merits of the case.

In a joint statement, the editors of MaltaToday, The Malta Independent, the Times of Malta and Lovin Malta, had expressed concern over the magistrate's gagging order.

Micallef was reflecting the widespread sentiment among people, who felt the Liam Debono interview would have been out of place. But the V18 chairman spared no punches, hitting out at Azzopardi, the national television station and the Broadcasting Authority.

Micallef's Facebook post.

“After occupying the Friday night slot for the last 20 years, he [Azzopardi] is tired and out of ideas,” Micallef said, describing the whole affair as a "well-crafted stunt" that aimed to promote the Friday night programme.

Micallef also called out the national broadcaster for allowing Azzopardi to "embarrass" it in such a way.

“I also find it appalling how the PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) administration allows its presenter to embarrass it in such a way, challenging and attacking a decision made by a magistrate and the court of law,” he said.

Micallef also hit out at the Broadcasting Authority for "remaining silent" and refusing to take action against the presenter.